Alberta Wilderness Association is a 5-star charity with an above-average results reporting score. Its overhead costs are within Ci’s reasonable range, and it has reserve funds to cover program costs for almost a year and nine months.

Founded in 1965, Alberta Wilderness Association’s (AWA) mission is to preserve Alberta’s wilderness, water, and wildlife. It does this by seeking protection for regions that represent the province’s characteristic landscapes. AWA’s major program is wilderness conservation, which it achieves through public awareness and action. 

A Charity Intelligence 2023 Top 100 Rated Charity

AWA prioritizes six natural regions: the Boreal Forest, the Rocky Mountains, the Canadian Shield, the Grasslands, the Foothills, and the Parklands. AWA proposes areas for conservation for each of these regions. AWA’s goal is to have 34% of the Boreal Forest, 90% of the Rockies, 79% of the Canadian Shield, 16% of the Grasslands, 20% of the Foothills, and 4% of the Parklands protected in the future. 

To protect wild spaces, the charity advocates to the government and other regulatory agencies including in the form of letters, petitions, forums, and legal action. In F2022, the Grassy Mountain Coal Project, which AWA opposed, was successfully rejected.

For wildlife conservation, AWA seeks protection for habitats of at-risk species through its Protected Areas. Current species of interest include bison, caribou, native cold-water fish, grizzly bears, sage-grouse, and wolves. AWA also advocates for improved species-at-risk legislation in Alberta and enforcement of existing laws to protect at-risk species.

To protect freshwater in Alberta, AWA advocates for a stronger provincial wetland policy. AWA currently prioritizes the McClelland Lake wetlands, Wood Buffalo National Park, and the Peace-Athabasca Delta, which face immediate threats. The charity is also fighting against a water pipeline proposal that would divert water from the Red Deer watershed.

In F2022, 1,161 people attended Alberta Wilderness Association’s events. The charity’s Adventures for Wilderness program hosted 37 adventures. Additionally, AWA released four issues of its Wildlands Advocate magazine. Each issue was delivered to 2,200 individuals and accessed online by more people. The charity also launched a Leave No Trace campaign to remind people to minimise any negative impact on places they visit.

Alberta Wilderness Association is a small charity that received $583k in F2022 through donations and special events revenue. The charity received $80k in government funding, which represented 12% of total revenues.

Administrative costs are 12% of revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 15% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 27%. For every dollar donated, 73 cents go to the cause which is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. AWA’s financial statements are unaudited which Charity Intelligence finds acceptable for a charity of its size. The Charities Directorate recommends charities of AWA’s size have audited financial statements.

AWA has reserve funds of $793k. With these funding reserves, AWA could cover almost a year and nine months of its program costs.

In the charity's T3010 filings with the CRA, it reported six full time positions, but listed nine positions for the top ten salary range.

Charity Intelligence sent an update of this report to AWA for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on June 13, 2023 by Kiara Andrade.